Book/Dissertation / PhD Thesis

FZJ-2013-06477

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Mobile Brenngaserzeugungssysteme mit Mitteldestillaten für Hochtemperatur-PEFC

Wiethege, C. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2013
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Zentralbibliothek, Verlag Jülich
ISBN: 978-3-89336-905-8

Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/5711

Abstract: This thesis discusses the development of a mobile fuel processing system for operating hightemperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (HT-PEFCs) with reformate from middle distillates. Attention is focused on applications for on-board power supply. Using fuel cell systems to generate on-board power is an energy-efficient alternative to conventional on-board power generation via the engine or an auxiliary power unit with a diesel or kerosene engine. The fuel processing system serves to produce a hydrogen-rich gas from the fuel available on board. In the case of aircraft or trucks, these fuels are the middle distillates diesel or kerosene. Combining the reforming process with an HT-PEFC creates a simple system with high system efficiency. HT-PEFCs are particularly tolerant of carbon monoxide, which is always formed during thereforming of diesel or kerosene. The work described here focused on the analysis of system efficiency, the development of an appropriate start-up strategy, making the system more compact in order to increase the power density and the experimental validation of the (sub-)models. The methodology of this work was based on closely linking the results of stationary and dynamic models created using ASPEN Plus, Ansys Fluent and MATLAB/Simulink. Two variants of a new design were presented for the packaging. In this design, the reformer, the water-gas shift reactor and the reformate/cathode-air heat exchanger were combined in a cylindrical apparatus. The power density of the fuel processing system was increased from 118 W/l to 690 W/l. Various heating strategies were explored with the dynamic model. A suitable commercial diesel burner for these strategies was found and tested. The heating strategy was revised on the basis of the experimental findings, which made it possible to produce power within 720 s. The apparatuses in the different systems were tested in the experimental part of this study. The ATR 9.1 reformer enables the outlet temperatures to be set at the desired values of 460$^{\circ}$ for steam and 400$^{\circ}$C for reformate. This result is an important step on the way towards integrated steam generation in fuel cell systems. The experiments with the fuel processing system as a whole demonstrate the feasibility of the complex connection of reformer, watergasshift reactor and catalytic burner. Furthermore, this was the first time that electric power had been generated from middle distillates using a fuel cell system at the Institute of Energy and Climate Research.

Keyword(s): Dissertation

Note: Dissertation, RWTH Aachen, 2013

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Technoökonomische Systemanalyse (IEK-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 123 - Fuel Cells (POF2-123) (POF2-123)

Appears in the scientific report 2013

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Database coverage:

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